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4D Printing? « Fabbaloo

4D Printing?

By on March 6th, 2013 in Ideas

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Researchers at MIT’s Self Assembly Lab have developed a new technique for 3D Printing which they call “4D Printing”. It’s 3D printing of objects designed to change their shape after printing. 
 
By exposing the printed object to a different external environment – think light, water, pressure, etc., specially designed joints in the object react and cause the object to change shape. 
 

4D Printing: Cube Self-Folding Strand from Skylar Tibbits on Vimeo.

Using equipment from their partner, Stratasys, MIT was able to produce simple shape reorganizations at a small scale. In the video you can see how a formerly straight tube changes shape when exposed to a water environment. 
 
The concept is good, particularly if it can be scaled up. Imagine 4D printed materials that can be efficiently stored for shipment and then take their final shape upon delivery. Construction materials, such as pre-fab walls or windows frames could benefit from this approach. 
 
Via MIT

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!